Synthetic kerbs and method of use

ABSTRACT

Synthetic kerbstones and method for use in the construction of roads, pathways and footpaths. The synthetic kerbstones described herein can support the edges of a road surface in the same manner as conventional kerbstones so as to allow the construction and use of the road during, for example, nearby building works. The synthetic kerbs can be driven over without the possibility of damage to the appearance of the final road. At the end of these building works, the temporary synthetic kerbs are removed and replaced with conventional kerbstones (typically made of concrete or stone). In use, the synthetic kerbstones described herein are preferably reusable. Alternatively, the kerbstones may be left in place and advantage taken of their resistance to damage on being mounted by vehicles. In this way, the holes or channels  2, 4  running longitudinally through the kerb can be used to provide services such as gas, water, electricity, communications and/or drainage.

[0001] This invention relates to synthetic kerbstones and method of use.In particular, the present invention relates to synthetic kerbstonesthat can be used in the construction of roads, pathways and footpaths.

[0002] At the present time, in the construction of roads and footpaths,it is common practice to lay concrete kerbs at the initial stages of abuilding contract. Typically, a road is constructed relatively early toallow access to the site. The road's sub-base and base course tarmac isalso laid at this stage of the contract to act as a hard-standing and/ora surface for construction vehicles to access the site, and which areoften heavily laden with building materials and/or waste. The concretekerbs are therefore susceptible to breakage or often, irreparabledamage. This can result in kerb replacement towards the end of thecontract, prior to the laying of top-course tarmac and hence, extraexpenditure may be incurred as overheads for the contractors.

[0003] In order to overcome these problems, Korean Patent No. KR132721Ydiscloses shock absorbent rubber kerbs each containing two conical holesformed in a row on either side of the centre, and a mounting groove cutaround the edge. The kerbs described in KR132721Y are to be used inconjunction with a mounting element located on the road, having conicalstuds to be pressed into the conical holes and the kerb pressed into themounting groove fixing the kerb element to the road. These kerbstonesare designed for permanent fixture in place. However, the problemsassociated with this approach are that the mounting element must befirstly located on the road prior to installation, and that thekerbstones must be manufactured having specific mounting holes andgrooves to meet with the mounting element. As such, this two-piececonstruction is expensive to manufacture and time consuming to install.

[0004] It is the object of the present to provide a synthetic kerbstoneand method of use to reduce the incidence of kerb damage by delaying thelaying of the final kerbstones until the final stages of construction.The polymeric kerbstones described herein can support the edges of theroad surface in the same manner as conventional kerbstones so as toallow the construction and use of the road during, for example, nearbybuilding works. The polymeric kerbs can be driven over without thepossibility of damage to the appearance of the final road. At the end ofthese building works, the temporary polymeric kerbs are removed andreplaced with conventional kerbstones (typically made of concrete orstone). In use, the polymeric kerbstones described herein are preferablyreusable. Alternatively, the kerbstones may be left in place andadvantage taken of their resistance to damage on being mounted byvehicles.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a polymerickerbstone having at least one longitudinal channel located therethrough.

[0006] Preferably, the polymeric kerbstones are formed from a hard,lightweight, durable rubber or polyethylene compound. Portions of thekerbstone may be made of a lower density polymer material to reduceweight. In a preferred embodiment, the overall weight of the kerbstoneis not more than 25 kg, which enables the kerbstone to comply with ‘oneman lift’ regulations in the United Kingdom, and similar regulations inother countries.

[0007] Typically, the polymeric kerbstones described herein are formedin the precise dimensions of an existing standard concrete half-batteredor bull-nosed kerb. Other embodiments of the present invention providefor other chamfered, radiused and/or splayed kerbstones.

[0008] A preferred additional feature on each kerb is the presence oftwo or more holes running longitudinally through the half-battered kerband one or more holes running longitudinally through the bull-nosedkerb. The longitudinal holes are believed to improve theshock-absorbency and hence durability of the kerb and also to decreasethe weight of the product. In a preferred embodiment, the end faces of akerbstone may be provided with interlocking fixing elements.

[0009] Additionally or alternatively, the one or more longitudinal holesrunning through the kerbstones may allow for the provision of servicessuch as gas, water, electricity, communications and/or drainage. Theprovision of the, or each, service duct is of particular utility whenthe kerb is intended for permanent fixture, rather than for temporaryusage. Access holes may be provided for the service ducts. Ideallyservice and drainage ducts are provided independently.

[0010] Preferably, the end faces of the kerbstone may be provided withcoupling elements for one or each longitudinal hole. These can, forexample take the form of a socket and spigot connection.

[0011] In further preferred embodiments, the kerbstones are providedwith holes to allow the insertion of removable quarter-turn handles foreasy transportation and installation.

[0012] Further preferably, the rubber compound to be used is thatobtainable from recycled rubber tyres. This is often known as ‘re-crumbrubber’. Other plastics materials may be employed. The product made inpolyethylene is made from either virgin or recycled polyethylene.

[0013] In particular embodiments, dyestuffs or pigments are added toenable the kerb to be manufactured in different colours as required.Preferred colours and textures match existing kerbstones.

[0014] Preferably, the kerbs are formed from a material having anelastic modulus of between 4 MPa (mega-pascals) and 3 GPa (giga-pascals)where 4.4 MPa is equivalent to an IR HD (hardness) value of 60(arbitrary units).

[0015] Also according to the present invention there is provided amethod of laying roads, comprising the steps of:

[0016] (a) placing a set of durable polymeric kerbstones along theborders of the road;

[0017] (b) laying the sub-base of the road;

[0018] (c) replacing the durable polymeric kerbstones with non-polymerickerbstones; and

[0019] (d) laying the top coat of the road.

[0020] It is believed that the synthetic kerbstone in accordance withthe present invention at least addresses the problems outlined above.The advantages of the present invention are that a synthetic kerbstoneand method of use are provided to reduce the incidence of kerb damage bydelaying the laying of the final kerbstones until the final stages ofconstruction. The polymeric kerbstones described herein can support theedges of the road surface in the same manner as conventional kerbstonesso as to allow the construction and use of the road during, for example,nearby building works. The polymeric kerbs can be driven over withoutthe possibility of damage to the appearance of the final road. At theend of these building works, the temporary polymeric kerbs are removedand replaced with conventional kerbstones (typically made of concrete orstone). In use, the polymeric kerbstones described herein are preferablyreusable. Alternatively, the kerbstones may be left in place andadvantage taken of their resistance to damage on being mounted byvehicles.

[0021] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations ofthe present invention are possible and it is intended that the presentinvention may be used other than as specifically described herein.

[0022] A specific non-limiting embodiment of the invention will bedescribed by way of example and with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the present invention,wherein the polymeric kerbstone has the precise dimensions of aconventional half-battered kerb.

[0024]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the present invention, whereinthe polymeric kerbstone has the precise dimensions of a conventionalbull-nosed kerb.

[0025] Referring now to the drawings, a synthetic kerbstone according tothe present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a polymerickerbstone in the precise dimensions of a conventional half-batteredkerb, with an angled chamfer 1 of either 12.5° or 15°. A preferredadditional feature is the provision of two or more holes 2 runninglongitudinally through the kerb. In use, these holes or channels 2 mayallow for the provision or services such as gas, water, electricity,communications and/or drainage. The provision of these service channels2 is of particular benefit when the kerb is located as a permanentfixture.

[0026] For ease of transportation and installation, the kerbstones areprovided with two holes 3 on the upper face, to allow the insertion ofremovable quarter-turn handles (not shown).

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a polymeric kerbstone of the present invention in theprecise dimensions of a conventional bull-nosed kerb and shows anadditional feature of one or more holes 4 again running longitudinallythrough the kerb. Again, the apertures 3 on the upper surface of thekerbstone are provided to allow the insertion of removable quarter-turnhandles (not shown).

[0028] Various alterations and modifications may be made to the presentinvention without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, although particular embodiments refer to replacing the durablepolymeric kerbstones with non-polymeric kerbstones on completion of thebuilding contract, this is in no way intended to be limiting as, in use,the present invention may be implemented with the kerbstones left inplace as a permanent fixture and advantage taken of their resistance todamage on being mounted by vehicles. In this way, the holes or channels2, 4 running longitudinally through the kerb can be used to provideservices such as gas, water, electricity, communications and/ordrainage.

1. A polymeric kerbstone having at least one longitudinal channel (2, 4)located therethrough.
 2. A polymeric kerbstone according to claim 1,wherein the polymeric kerbstone is formed from a hard, lightweight,durable rubber or polyethylene compound.
 3. A polymeric kerbstoneaccording to claim 1, wherein the polymeric kerbstone is formed in theprecise dimensions of an existing standard concrete half-battered orbull-nosed kerb.
 4. A polymeric kerbstone according to claim 3, whereineach polymeric kerbstone comprises two or more holes (2) runninglongitudinally through the half-battered kerb and one hole (4) runninglongitudinally through the bull-nosed kerb.
 5. A polymeric kerbstoneaccording to claim 1, wherein the polymeric kerbstone is provided withholes (3) to allow the insertion of removable quarter-turn handles foreasy transportation and installation
 6. A polymeric kerbstone accordingto claim 2, wherein the rubber compound to be used is that obtainablefrom recycled rubber tyres.
 7. A polymeric kerbstone according to claim1, wherein the polymeric kerbstone is formed from a material having anelastic modulus of between 4 MPa and 3 GPa where 4.4 MPa is equivalentto an IR HD (hardness) value of 60 (arbitrary units).
 8. A polymerickerbstone according to claim 1, wherein said at least one longitudinalchannel (2, 4) allows for the provision of services such as gas, water,electricity, communications and/or drainage.
 9. A polymeric kerbstoneaccording to claim 1, wherein the polymeric kerbstone is provided withend faces having coupling elements mounted thereon to facilitateconnection of said longitudinal channels (2, 4).
 10. A method of layingroads, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a set of durable polymerickerbstones along the borders of the road; (b) laying the sub-base of theroad; (c) replacing the durable polymeric kerbstones with non-polymerickerbstones; and (d) laying the top coat of the road.